Russian trolls accused of meddling in indyref ‘target world leaders’
A UK Government investigation has revealed Russian internet trolls based in an old arms factory in St Petersburg – and accused of meddling in the Scottish independence referendum – are targeting world leaders online and spreading support for the invasion of Ukraine.
Research funded by the Government found online trolls were being ordered to target western media outlets and politicians, including the Twitter account of prime minister boris Johnson and German chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The investigation is due to be shared with other governments and online platforms.
Culture secretary na dine dorriess aid the evidence justified the Government’s decision to block anyone doing business with Russian media outlets RT, which previously employed former First Minister Alex Salmond as a talk show host, until he suspended his work just before the Russian invasion, and Sputnik.
The troll factory is believed to be linked to oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Russian Internet Research Agency.
The agency has previously been accused of meddling in the 2016 election that saw Donald Trump win the presidency, as well as the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. The headquarters is allegedly located in rented space in St Petersburg’s Arsenal Machinebuilding Factory, a company that manufactures military equipment and technology.
The research said Tiktok influencers were being paid to amplify pro-kremlin narratives, while although activities on Twitter and Facebook were detected, the trolling was particularly concentrated on Instagram, Youtube and Tiktok.
Workers at the so-called troll factory were paid and hired openly, saying the work was “patriotic activity” in support of the “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Foreign secretary Liz Truss said: “We cannot allow the Kremlin and its shady troll farms to invade our online spaces with their lies about Putin’s illegal war. “Theuk government will work closely with allies and media platforms to undermine Russian information operations.” Ms Dorries said: “These are insidious attempts by Putin and his propaganda machine to deceive the world about the brutality he’s inflicting on the people of Ukraine.